Scent is art on another plane. Just as you can see contrasts in shape, color, and texture in an art piece—you can smell those things too.
This workshop, hosted by SLATE gallery, has been designed by olfactory artist Carmen Rose to illuminate the profound connection between scent and memory while teaching participants how to structure a perfume through hands-on experimentation with botanical ingredients. Through this process, students craft an “olfactory portrait”—a unique personal scent that captures the essence of memories, places, or emotions that exist beyond the visual realm. Carmen provides worksheets and expert guidance throughout the blending process.
The workshop takes place in dialogue with Oakland artist Hannah Franco’s exhibition TRACES, which explores attention and value through visual narratives descended from women’s craft and quilting traditions. Both artists work with the concept of capturing intangible experiences—and to bridge their artistic practices, Carmen Rose and Hannah Franco have collaborated on a custom scent that translates the ethos of Hannah’s artwork into fragrance. This signature scent—available for presale at the workshop only—offers participants a tangible example of how visual art can be translated into an olfactory experience.
Everyone departs with ‘a memory in a bottle’: their handmade perfume in an elegant 15ml French glass dabber bottle and the knowledge of how it was made.
Check gallery website for hours and additional info
